The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-11-19

re v>s 4 touch Of comedy about
'hc 90 and decided tragedy ID tho
Iatk4 ecencs ~ dramma IN real lie,
"a " ID / played. involuntarily a
l,'a'liI part which hns always been
'l,ivr( stlne Ia rs telling and may b.
eqaa 50 when written and reads ''-.'
ia v,k> about month after the close
oioi civil war. when was stationed
~ "A ~ on the Mississippi In Louisi-
'ua 1ns'ly engaged In connection with
n,y duties rs provost marshal Of divIs-
ion and district, In parolling the many
ex confedera;cs who were constantly
coming ia. most OF Thorn sick and worn,
all hungry and dirty.
Old Colonel c.. a good ''rebcr' and
fine gentleman. considered himself UNI,
der obligations to me for sending to
his home. in an ambulance. his young.
brave. gray-coated and very sick sol
der son. and he continually invited me
10 accept his hearty, old-fashioned
Southern hospitality at the home plan
tations about eight miles from our post.
He had three young daughters, good
rebels all. but pretty. bright sensible
ladies, whose political opinions never
tainted their courtesy. / was glad to
seek such pleasant company and often
did so.
received notice one day from the
colonel. that the next Sunday would be
little Gcorgia's birthday. that my pres
cnce would add to the joyousness OF the
occasion. and that there would be am
pie home products for egg-nog. which
latter intimation / we'll understood TO
mean that would be greatly thanked
II brought the spurious ingredients
for the concoction.
Early on the day mentioned noun
ted with two canteens. one of whisky
and one Of jamaica rum, fastened on
my saddle bow. and with no weapons,
Necessity required that should be In
uniform passing through our troops
and lines. and as the day was very,
very warm. only wore flannel under
shirt beneath my closely buttoned
double breasted coat. and strapped be-
hind me a clean white garment and
two collars polished in the best style of
the laundry art. knew / would have
TO throw off my tight fitting harness"
on my arrival to put on the light, gray
jacket the colonel always insisted suited
me better than the blue and and brass,
and / wanted to look mice"
The road was long. hot and terribly
dusty. About 500 yards from my desti-
nation ! stopped. picketed my horse in
side the fence. retired to thick grove
of high underbrush well knew. and
through which ran little stream of
clear water. disrobed and bathed.
then. fresh, cool and clean. proceeded
TO prepare for inspection and review"
was struggling with the over starchcd
"biled shirt" head and arms hidden,
when through the muffing heard tho
cracking of twigs. As / thrust my
head, with hair all tumbled, through
the BOSOM opening OF the garment. 1
looked directly into the muzzcls OF
three revolvers and one shot gun. all
held within five feet of and on level
with my head In manner not calculat-
ed to increase a mans appetite for the
contents.
Behind each weapon was villainous
outlaw, specimens of that class who
were rebels and murderers with Union
men and murders and Yankees with the
Confederates. men who met with no
mercy or sympathy from the true sol
diers Of either side. Worse still. ! rec
ognized from descriptions often given
me. that one of the party was Mat
Kingsley, whose house. near the post.
had been forced TO take as q smallpox
hospital. and who. ! heard. vowed ven
geance upon me for the act
There was nothing to do but throw
up my hands" and / did It. There
was no use in arguing or pleading with
such gang. so put bold front on
the matter and tried TO compromise.
had couple of hundred dollars In
greenbacks in my pocket and these with
my horse ] offered II they would free
me. They laughed the proposition TO
scorn. They had me and all these be-
longing to mo and intended to part
with nothing. They had not expected
such luck as finding me. being on